She wasn’t looking to become famous. She was just a regular mum with a charitable heart. Shannon Buist was making her regular drop off of some toys for donation at a women’s shelter in Park City, UT. She had done this many times before, but on this particular day when she asked the volunteers if they needed anything else, they responded quickly. ‘We need more diapers!’
“Until that moment, it had never occurred to me before,” says Shannon. “Diapers are quite expensive. Babies go through them quite quickly.” Shannon, herself a mother of two (a 4-year old and a 2-year old) did some online research on the subject. What she learned touched her heart. Her research showed that diapers were in fact one of the most-needed items in food pantries and shelters in North America.
She also learned that many parents in low-income families had to make do with one diaper a day because of the high cost. In fact, many were known to reuse soiled disposable diapers. This resulted in the development of urinary tract infections and rashes on babies.
Shannon discovered that disposable diapers simply weren’t affordable for all families, especially those struggling to purchase medicine and food. The average family consumes $80 worth of disposable diapers per month, per baby. There aren’t any government assistance programs to help cover this cost. Although cloth diapers would be a less expensive alternative, many day-care facilities as well as self-service laundries prohibit them.
Shannon knew that she had to do something to help. She started the Dry Baby Bums organization. Her organization, based in Park City, collects and donates diapers. Her local community does its part by offering the organization space for fundraising in bowling alleys, gyms and restaurants, often charging diaper boxes as admission.
Every penny she raises goes directly to the cause. She’s managed to collect hundreds of thousands of diapers. The organization distributes more than 7,000 diapers every month to the city’s food pantry alone.
Many families struggling to make ends meet in Park City have Shannon and Dry Baby Bums to thank for their babies’ good health. Volunteers often get hugs when distributing diapers to families. “One father started crying when he received the diapers,” says Shannon. “He is raising four children and works three jobs.”
Shannon has certainly proved that little things go a long way to help. You can make a difference for a family today by donating diapers or food to a shelter near you.
